M2 April 2018 - LATEST ISSUE!
Grooming: Everything In Its Place
Start every day on the right foot by getting your regimen up to speed. A selection of stellar products in sleek packaging deserves to be put on display. Top Row (from left to right): Hugo Boss Urban Journey 75ml, $94.00; Hollister Free Wave For Him 50ml, $35.00; Montblanc Legend Night – EDP Natural Spray...
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The Importance Of Creating Original Content
If content is king, original content is the Holy Grail. In today’s marketplace, your customers are screaming for exciting, engaging and entertaining original content. How important is creating original content? Well take a look at the world of video streaming. There is now an arms race between the likes of Apple, Netflix and Amazon to...
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The Tech Giant: Bringing The Forest To Amazon
Kindle, Amazon Web Services, Amazon Prime, Amazon Go, Alexa… Amazon is ever the innovator, and that’s not even considering the behemoth that is its online shopping platform. And, with CEO Jeff Bezos firmly set as the richest person on the planet, with a net worth of US$120.5 billion, Amazon has decided to celebrate its success...
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There’s Something About Giulia
My friends at Winger Alfa Romeo were kind enough to offer me their Giulia Quadrifoglio for the weekend, but that, in turn, invoked a fair amount of inner turmoil. Although I had been chomping at the bit to drive the Giulia again, as most Alfa owners would probably attest, the Romeos of old have a...
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The Good, The Bad And The Loki
A couple of years back I took a paper called “Celebrity Cultures” as part of my Post-Grad. In between the discussions around topics such as the role of paparazzi, fandom, and the power of endorsement, “Persona” was a recurring key concept. Meaning “Mask” in Latin, the persona is essentially a socially constructed image that others...
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The Chair: Rob Campbell
Over the last 30 years Rob Campbell is on the board of some of our largest companies across our largest industries. Currently Chair of Summerset Group Holdings (NZ) and WEL Energy, and a director of SKYCITY Entertainment Group and Precinct Properties as well a director of or advisor to a number of hedge and private...
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How Great People Make A Great Company
Behind any successful business, you’ll usually find great people. The business I founded nine years ago, Pure SEO, is no exception. I’m constantly in awe of my team—and often wonder how I’m the one (sort of) running the company! So many of our people are passionate, committed and incredibly driven, which is what I attribute...
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Films To Watch This April
Rampage Billed as ‘Big Meets Bigger’, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson plays a primatologist who befriends a giant silverback gorilla. After a genetic experiment goes wrong (good one, humanity), the gorilla goes ape. Not only that, several species of altered animals begin to run amok across America, and it’s up to the The Rock to restore...
Read MoreStyle
Levi’s: Not Just Jeans
The power of a brand is something that shouldn’t be underestimated. When you think of burgers, you think of McDonald’s. When you think of soft drinks, you think Coca-Cola. And when it comes to denim, Levi’s stands head and shoulders above everybody else. Founded in 1853 by German immigrant Levi Strauss, Levi’s has its roots in practicality,...
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Up Your Running Game With Reebok’s New Floatride Run Shoes
There is an important relationship between the fields of form and function. Ideally, the shape of an object should follow its intended function and purpose. What’s the point of having a flash looking supercar if the seats mess with your posture and the engine is the equivalent of a ride-on lawn mower? When it comes...
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Get Rugged Up For Autumn
With April underway and Autumn firmly taking root, it’s time to adjust your attire accordingly. Style-wise the colder months give you plenty more options to play with, so consider “rugging up” and adding more pieces to your normal daily fit. Overlaying some plaid with a bomber jacket and working in a scarf for good measure...
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Jack & Jones Street Wear Comes To New Zealand
When it comes to street wear, the best looks draw influence from a variety of styles but know how to balance it all in aesthetic harmony. New and exclusive to Farmers, Danish menswear brand Jack & Jones has just arrived on our shores in time for Autumn. Taking style design inspiration from a Danish brand...
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M2 PEAK PERFORMANCE powered Under Armour
The One To Watch – Opie Bosson
Opie Bosson Reins Supreme In The Twilight Of His Career In a sports world obsessed and put into context by statistics, the phenomenal haul of veteran Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson has to be studied twice to truly appreciate. In a 23 year career in the ruthless racing industry, the 37 year old has amassed over […]
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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: The Gentle Art
My first sparring session (or ‘roll’, as its known colloquially) was an education into how vulnerable we are. It’s comparable to being thrown into a pool without knowing how to swim, or trying to control a boa constrictor. I remember being absolutely manhandled. Using pressure and techniques completely foreign to me, I was dissected in […]
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Going For Gold – David Bishop
Ex-engineering student, sport fanatic and skilled gymnast, David Bishop is a perfect example of someone who emulates the good ol’ Kiwi spirit. He has a can-do attitude, that lovable personality and the type of ability any sportsman would love to encompass. He is a medal-winning gymnast, fitness coach, and with some big competitions coming up, […]
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Winning Formula With Brendon Hartley
New Zealand boasts a rich history of names in the realm of motorsport – Chris Amon, Bruce McLaren, Possom Bourne, Greg Murphy, Scott Dixon and Mitch Evans are just a selection of names in the NZ motorsport pantheon. While Kiwi drivers have had success across a variety of motorsport competitions and rulesets, there is one […]
Read MoreWild
Walk on the Wild Side
Expressionist American photographer, Aaron Siskind once said: ‘Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever…’ We bring you the iconic shots from The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017, developed and produced by the National History Museum, London. Capturing the most magical parts of...
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11 Deadliest Animals on the Planet, And How to Survive Them
The animal kingdom is a strange and wonderful place. From architects to mimes, assassins to philanderers, each animal has its own niche, a role and place. While we regularly encounter cats, dogs, birds and bugs, our chances of seeing dangerous animals are usually limited to visiting the zoo or watching The Discovery Channel. But while...
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Behind The Lens: Open Ocean
The thought of delving into the deep and getting face-to-face with some of the world’s biggest and deadliest beasts is not something everyone can face. But it is a different story for underwater videographer and adrenaline junkie, Steve Hathaway. Fascinated about life under the surface, M2 dove straight in when the opportunity arose to talk...
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Surgeons of the Sea
Free Willy vs Jaws… who wins? Hollywood has altered our expectations about how this sort of apex predator duel would go down. Unless you spend more time watching documentaries than old movies on VHS, then the answer isn’t so clear. The biggest great white sharks can measure six metres long, weigh more than 2200 kilograms...
Read MoreSnow
The Mazda SKI-ACTIV Experience
I vividly remember the first time I actually put skis on and hit (quite literally) the snow. I was in my late teens and full of bravado; I headed to the top of the chairlift, strapped on two planks of wood and shot down the slope – straight into a tree. The sensation was both...
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STEF ZEESTRATEN: HALFPIPE HEDONIST
From one of the flattest countries in the world, to the sharp ascents of the Southern Alps, Dutch-born Stef Zeestraten has, as is his wont, carved a name for himself in New Zealand snowboarding folklore. Throughout his 17-year competitive career that saw him peak at 47th in the world in 2008, Zeestraten has followed the serious...
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New Zealand Snow Guide 2017
With a cold blast hitting much of New Zealand earlier than expected, ski fields the length of the country have been able to open with bonus time to spare. Seasoned snow bunnies know their spots on both islands, but for those looking to venture out and experience new terrain and thrills, where do you go...
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Climbing The Podium: Kiwis at the Winter Paralympics
The Winter Games, both Olympic and Paralympic, usually pass with minimal mention down under, but in the case of the compact Kiwi Paralympian team heading to South Korea this March, there’s reason to take notice. For a global event that is heavily dominated by northern hemisphere athletes, New Zealand participants more than hold their own....
Read MoreLeadership
MARKET LEADER: The driving force behind the real estate evolution
Brendon Skipper’s role as CEO of New Zealand’s No.1 property site, realestate.co.nz, draws on more than 20 years of experience across sales and marketing, property, IT and telecommunications, but he is quick to point out that the CEO role is one that doesn’t come with a manual. Could you describe a standard day for yourself?...
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Richard Branson’s 75 Close Shaves
Unwavering, relentless persistence, those are the words I would use to describe Richard Branson. He’s built a global brand and personal lifestyle, from scratch that fascinates us with its continuous momentum, near misses and massive achievements. How many international entrepreneurs would be working deals and businesses in massive markets like the UK, the USA, Europe,...
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Impact From Simplicity
In a world of exponential innovation, disruptive technologies and giddy cryptocurrency speculation a discussion about another KiwiSaver fund might seem a little vanilla. But after a few minutes with Simplicity founder, Sam Stubbs even the most finically unfocused would be hard pressed not to find excitement in compounded interest from saved fees, the growth of...
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Reinvention At Scale
Spark CEO, Simon Moutter, is leading our largest telco through the one of the most disruptive eras in business and the tech industry. All whilst reinventing the nature and structure of a company that employs thousands of New Zealanders and invests hundreds of millions into infrastructure. This is a process that is helped by the logic and pragmatism of a...
Read MoreGadgets
The New Sennheiser MOMENTUM Free
27Following the launch of the MOMENTUM In-Ear Wireless neckband headphones at CES 2017, the new MOMENTUM Free expands Sennheiser’s range of Bluetooth ear-canal headphones. Sennheiser has a good reputation and they aren’t going to ruin it now. The headphones’ high-quality dynamic speaker system and custom-machined stainless steel in-ear sound tunnels deliver superior acoustic precision with a...
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The Sunrise Smart Pillow
You know how you went to sleep on your dumb pillow last night and thought to yourself “I wish my pillow could double as an artificial sun and also play bluetooth music”? well today your dreams have become reality. The Sunrise Smart Pillow has successfully smashed its targets on Kickstarter as the consumer tech crowd...
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Checking out the Huawei P10
The P10 and P10 Plus came out in April, and continue to be Huawei’s flagship top tier phones designed to take on the likes of Apple and Samsung. Their particular niche has been designing cameras that give their conventional counterparts a run for their money. To achieve this Huawei teamed up with Leica to coengineer the...
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Game Reviews December 2017
Assassins Creed Origin From: Ubisoft Platform: Xbox One, PC, PS4 You slowly look to the left, spotting your target. Unable to fully scope the terrain you let your pet eagle scout the area from above and highlight enemies for you. Scaling the nearby building you wait for your target to get near. You dive towards...
Read MoreMandate
This is What the Future of BMW Looks Like
At CES2017 BMW revealed the BMW i Inside Future sculpture, an experimental concept pushing the boundaries of how we interact with our vehicles. The interior design is more zenlike in its simplicity, and takes the focus away from the driver. In previous BMW’s they’ve aimed all the controls at the driver, making them a pilot at...
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Auckland’s Changing Skyline
A new apartment tower is set to fill a gap in Auckland’s housing market and change its skyline with a new landmark feature. The Pacifica is going up – sky high. It is well known that New Zealand is in the midst of a housing shortage, no city more so than Auckland. As people flock...
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The Ecological Oasis – Oman Botanical Gardens
A wonder of the ancient world, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were a tall beacon of green packed full of abundant plant life, ripe fruit and flowing waterfalls, said to be created by Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II as a gift to his wife. As we all know, history has that weird habit of repeating itself, and,...
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The Sky is the Limit
After the recent Release of their hit singles ‘Run’ and ‘the sky is a neighbourhood’, We had a chance to sit down and talk with the Foo Fighters lead guitarist, Chris Shiflett, about the new album concrete and gold. From the challenges of balacing his family life, to the highlights of his career, we give...
Read MoreMan on the Street
Man On The Street – Shawn Pope
Age: 46 Occupation: Director of Melba Group What’s your morning routine? Starts with coffee, preferably roasted by Espresso Workshop, it always has! What are the top three things on your bucket list? Spend a white Christmas with my family in the States, travel on the Orient Express (can’t wait to see St Petersburg), windsurf on...
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Man On The Street – Jordon Milroy
Age: 28 Occupation: Visionary and climber at Jordon’s Climb for Awareness What’s your morning routine? The alarm is set for 5.03am. I roll into the gym and do a full workout until 6.45 and then back home, where it’s coffee time! What are the top three things on your bucket list? To find a bucket…...
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Man On The Street – Justin Scott
Age: 26 Occupation: Production Coordinator at NZME What’s your morning routine? Wake up and hit the shower before my partner can. Jump out, whip on some clothes and make some breakfast and then off to work. Fast and furious. What are the top three things on your bucket list? 1. Buy a house in Auckland (like...
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Man on the Street – Jaheb Barnett
Age: 31 Occupation: Advertising Mad Man by day and men’s fashion blogger somewhere in-between What’s your morning routine? Typically it starts with a shock when the alarm goes off at 6am, then me jumping into my exercise kit and hitting F45 training for a workout. This is followed up with a coffee to kick-start the...
Read MoreDesign
Amazon Goes Green Spheres
Kindle, Amazon Web Services, Amazon Prime, Amazon Go, Alexa. Amazon are ever the innovators and that’s not even considering the behemoth that is their online shopping platform. And, with CEO Jeff Bezos firmly set as the richest person on the planet with a net worth of $120.5 billion (USD), Amazon have decided to celebrate their...
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NZ Architect wins German Design Award
It sits there in the heart of Auckland’s Titirangi. A corrugated beating heart surrounded by native bush with the warbling sing-song of Tui and Kereru as the soundtrack. While you might think that the seclusion of West Auckland’s native bush would mask the design mastery of “Red House”, it employs the opposite effect, so much...
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Star Wars Laser Battle Drone
Propel (the world’s leading developer and manufacturer of radio-controlled devices) has recently released a new toy on the market, launching gaming and high-tech droning into the next galaxy. With The Last Jedi having hit the big screen last month, and more themed merchandise arriving on shelves around the country, Star Wars-mania is well and truly...
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The Electric Future – Tesla Stem
Bruce Wayne, Tony Stark – they don’t exist. Sorry folks. We do have Elon Musk, however. And, quite frankly, that’ll do. Whether he has his sights set to the stars with SpaceX, disrupting the automotive world with Tesla or providing powerwalls to a broken Puerto Rico, Musk is doing this whole billionaire philanthropist thing quite...
Read MoreDeep Dives
All Hail Our Secret Government
It’s a golden time for lobbyists at the moment. We’ve just had a change in government and that means it’s time for everything to change, come what may. Duh, it has to – as the last guys obviously got every single thing wrong! But there’s a slight problem in that, aside from a couple of...
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The Fight For Gender Diversity – An Ad Man’s POV
So, a high-powered panel of female leaders featuring Theresa Gattung, Justine Smyth, Tracey Cross, Naomi Ballantyne and Linda Meade were at the M2woman Journey to Excellence forum recently. I think it’s fair to say that the gist of their forum was; “we want moregender equality in the workplace! Now, dammit! Now!” Huh? Is this really...
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Walk on the Wild Side
Expressionist American photographer, Aaron Siskind once said: ‘Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever…’ We bring you the iconic shots from The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017, developed and produced by the National History Museum, London. Capturing the most magical parts of...
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Climbing The Podium: Kiwis at the Winter Paralympics
The Winter Games, both Olympic and Paralympic, usually pass with minimal mention down under, but in the case of the compact Kiwi Paralympian team heading to South Korea this March, there’s reason to take notice. For a global event that is heavily dominated by northern hemisphere athletes, New Zealand participants more than hold their own....
Read MoreCover Stories
The Shape Shifter – Matthew McConaughey In the Dark Tower
“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed”. Back in 1978, with these tantalising words, a young man called Stephen King began an epic narrative that is still unfolding to this very day. King would go on to become one of the best-selling popular novelists in the world, a modern-day Charles...
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Chris Pine, A Lead Team Player
Chris Pine is the classic ladies man, designed in a lab somewhere as a weaponised human being with the set purpose of breaking hearts wherever he goes. Born in Los Angeles to Robert Pine and Gwynne Gilford, both of whom who are actors (Robert was a CHiPs co-star). It seems natural in hindsight that the...
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Double Edged: The Return of Blade Runner
We’re treading on hallowed ground now. We all knew that one day Hollywood’s rummaging hand would light upon a classic like Blade Runner. They’ve already made the right first move by not rebooting everything from scratch. The second move they need to make is far more nuanced. Just a little background for readers who are...
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The Good, The Bad And The Loki
A couple of years back I took a paper called “Celebrity Cultures” as part of my Post-Grad. In between the discussions around topics such as the role of paparazzi, fandom, and the power of endorsement, “Persona” was a recurring key concept. Meaning “Mask” in Latin, the persona is essentially a socially constructed image that others...
Read MoreSuccess
Mind Power
Your life and your world is a consequence of what you think. You may not realise your mind is an incredibly powerful tool and even the Einstein’s and Hawking’s were using less than 10% so learn how to use it and enjoy unbelievable success. I have just had the most wonderful weekend learning “how to...
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Richard Branson’s 75 Close Shaves
Unwavering, relentless persistence, those are the words I would use to describe Richard Branson. He’s built a global brand and personal lifestyle, from scratch that fascinates us with its continuous momentum, near misses and massive achievements. How many international entrepreneurs would be working deals and businesses in massive markets like the UK, the USA, Europe,...
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The Importance Of Creating Original Content
If content is king, original content is the Holy Grail. In today’s marketplace, your customers are screaming for exciting, engaging and entertaining original content. How important is creating original content? Well take a look at the world of video streaming. There is now an arms race between the likes of Apple, Netflix and Amazon to...
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18 Ways to be a Better Man
Being a man doesn’t just mean being macho. Being a better man means wanting to develop the qualities of inner strength, confidence, having moral qualities, possessing honesty and integrity and being a positive example. A better man wants to be courageous and bold, challenged and to feel a sense of contribution. Here’s our list of...
Read MoreAmazing Photos
Rebuilding a Nation
It was 2.45pm on March 11, 2011; everything was normal for Japan’s 127 million residences. It was one of the first days of spring and the air was still crisp, and there was no real hint of the chilling events about to strike the nation. The 9.0 magnitude quake hit at 2.46pm JST, and it...
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The Art Of Fakery
Austrian photographer Gregor Sailer is a changer of landscapes, and a tricker of minds. Photographs in his latest series, The Potemkin Village, strike a sense of confusion… but not everything is as it may seem. While growing up in Tyrol, Austria, Gregor Sailer started taking snaps at a young age and has not stopped...
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What Lies Beneath
From growing up in a small town in North Canterbury, to hosting his very own series, picked up by a global documentary giant – National Geographic – Ellis Emmett truly is an inspiration to get out there and get stuck into something you love and turn your ideas and dreams into a reality. We manage...
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Long Live The Silver Screen
Think about the magic and excitement of driving up to a local parking lot, ready to watch the latest feature film in the comfort of your own car. The light from the projector beams a dancing stream of images onto the giant screen ahead, while kids laugh and play beneath the screen. American-based photographer Lindsey...
Read MoreSport
Hayden Paddon, Gravel Guru
A generation after the world-beating deeds of the late Possum Bourne, rally star Hayden Paddon has once again put Kiwi drivers on the map. The Hyundai driver has become a fixture on the world’s loose roads for the past four years and has been supremely competitive when all the stars align. In such a condensed...
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WINSTON FROM WESTHAM
Big footballing names are few and far between in New Zealand, but in recent times, the national side have had a genuine star of the game leading the way to the FIFA World Cup. In 2010, Ryan Nelsen famously led the All Whites to an unbeaten Cup run, and his underling in that tournament has...
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Joseph Parker – Fighting Spirit
It’s known as “The Sweet Science”. Where mere millimeters mean the difference between slipping a punch or waking up gazing at the bright lights of a stadium ceiling. Where the right amount of torque and placement decides whether or not a punch becomes a knockout blow. Where timing is the difference between a successful counter punch...
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Sports – March 2018
The One To Watch: Blair Tuke New Zealand sailing’s unsung hero Team New Zealand trimmer and 49er legend Blair Tuke hasn’t always been in his good mate, Peter Burling’s shadow and he has stepped out of it again by continuing New Zealand’s proud history in the Volvo Ocean Race. Before the America’s Cup became the...
Read MoreBucket List Experiences
Logan Dodds Captures The Action
Being the social media sensation that he is, Logan Dodds is evidently no stranger to being in the limelight. When it comes to capturing the right mood, combined with the right moment, his vision is faultless and his adventurous spirit makes for some of the most breath taking and jaw dropping moments ever to grace...
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Destination Du Jour – BULGARI Bali Resort
Imagine waking up to the calming sound of waves washing upon the shore; birds and wildlife chattering in the distance; and smelling the earthy scent of the native forest as you slowly come to… Home of the spiritual getaway, Bali has become one of those destinations that every second person has been to, and for...
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What Lies Beneath
From growing up in a small town in North Canterbury, to hosting his very own series, picked up by a global documentary giant – National Geographic – Ellis Emmett truly is an inspiration to get out there and get stuck into something you love and turn your ideas and dreams into a reality. We manage...
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Views From The Top
A beautiful image of a polar bear leaping across a stream of crystal-clear blue water. A gathering of squalling seagulls above a passing boat. A birds-eye view of a basketball game. These are the winning photos of last year’s SkyPixel’s Best Aerial Photos award. Sometimes, a photo is more than just a photo. Sometimes, it...
Read MoreWheels
The Self-Healing Supercar
Water is wet, the sun is hot and supercars are cool. But if there is one major caveat to driving around in a Lamborghini, it’s that parts and repairs will cost you an arm and a leg… and then your other leg too. Not only that, repairs are a cumbersome process. Lamborghini has been collaborating...
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The New Bentley Continental GT
First shown off at IAA Frankfurt Motor Show this year the Bentley Continental GT is a sight to behold and a pleasure to drive. Designed, engineered and handcrafted in Britain, the new third-generation Continental GT performance with handcrafted luxury and cutting-edge technology. At the heart of the new Continental GT sits an all-new, enhanced version of...
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Summer Of Sport – Motorsport That Is
With the Laser Plumbing & Electrical HD 500 beginning to disappear in the rear view mirror, all eyes at Hampton Downs Motorsport Park are now focused on the summer. And with track days, driver training days, drift days and epic events such as Mad Mike’s Summer Bash and 4Guys Autobarn Legends of Bathurst, what a...
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To The Manor Reborn AKA Unearthing Diamonds
The opportunity arose to visit the Jaguar Land Rover Classic Works in Coventry, and I seized it with both hands. Not only would it give me the chance to pore over such iconic cars as the E-Type and Land Rover Series 1 , but it also came with the offer of being chauffeur driven there and back in a...
Read MoreHealth
Healing without Scars
Be it from when you tripped and fell as a kid, an accidental burn, or if you got your appendix removed, scars can be rather unpleasant and unsightly. And while scars can’t be completely removed at present, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Dermatology have found a way to make fresh wounds heal...
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Health News – January 2018
It’s the season of summer sports, so grab your mates and head out to the tennis, races or polo this January. ASB Classic Experience the violence of the swing, the gun-shot thwack of racquet meeting rubber and green felt and the energy of the players as they run, skid and scramble around the court at...
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Struggling to get that six pack?
It can be frustrating putting in the hard yards in diet and exercise-wise without seeing results. Here are 3 habits that might be holding you back from achieving your goal physique. Lack of sleep. Not getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night can contribute to increased levels of ghrelin – your hunger hormone – meaning...
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So You Think You’re Healthy? Health Concerns Of The 40 Year Old
As much as we don’t want to admit it, we 40-plus guys have been using the classic cliché for years: “Kids, everything you’ve done (whether it be partying hard, drinking or drugs), your dads have done it all before.” And now, from a health perspective, we are starting to pay the price for those experiences!...
Read MoreEntertainment
Along Came a Best-Seller
I cannot imagine a world in which James Patterson’s novels are not in it. Plucking a Patterson work from my bookshelf feels like a spiritual ritual, almost. The esteemed 70-year-old New York-born author’s accomplished style of narration, and his vibrant, nail-biting prose submerged in alarming twists and turns, is still going strong in the literary...
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Telling the Story of Half A Million
Three groups of individuals are set to tell the story of almost half a million people on land, sea and air. Christopher Nolan’s new epic starts with a kid, a young soldier, wandering through the empty streets of Dunkirk with the rest of his squad. Suddenly thuds of a rifle louder than they have any...
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Three To See This October
Blade Runner 2049 It’s not every year an old beloved franchise is resuscitated to sell a couple more movie tickets. Actually, wait, it is… but this one’s different, I swear. Ryan Gosling picks up the reigns as the new Blade Runner taking out replicants. It plays with the themes of the original and advances the mystery....
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Book reviews – March 2018
By Tim Lawrence I haven’t read the first two Orphan X novels, but I did read and review another Hurwitz novel last year, Tell No Lies, where I said: “ The story is set in San Francisco, the hero is a rich kid with a tough, wealthy mother; he gives up everything to marry his...
Read MoreFood
The Burger Battle
Each week seems to bring another burger joint opening, but hey, we’re not complaining. But with each new opening comes a new concept, so which fusion, style or flavour do you pick? Better Burger These guys seem to be taking on the city, with the recent opening of their Sylvia Park store showing they have...
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Recipe: Butter Infused With All Natural Ingredients
When it comes to summer food there is one thing many of us look forward to all year – BBQs. Perfectly cooked steak, fresh prawns and locally caught fish with summer salads and perla potatoes. It’s a summer tradition, really! Award-winning chef Owen Sinclair has created a must-have for your next BBQ with Flavour Fiend...
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Discover Your New Local – Ben Bayly’s Less Obvious Guide to the Best Restaurants
We live in a golden age of chefs. Between the move towards consumers seeking a more personal and authentic dining experience, Auckland is bubbling over with cooking legends who not only practice world-class gastronomy but also manage to remain authentic with more focus on craft than profit. Ben Bayly, one of the judges on New...
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Where Our Chefs Eat: The Ultimate Mans Guide
There’s nothing worse than pining after a dish all day, only to be miserably disappointed when your order doesn’t quite live up to the expectations. With a dizzying array of options dotted around the city, it’s hard to know where to even begin. To avoid a serious case of food disappointment, we spoke to some...
Read MoreWine
Winter Warmers… More Great Wines to Bring to a Dinner Party
Warm up your winter evenings around a good drop of red. It’s a great time of year for dinner parties. Time to get light the fire, light the candles, relax and enjoy one another’s company over a nice roast and a good bottle of red. The challenge is to choose the right wine for the...
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Reddy to party?
We all love a good party here at M2 and dinner parties at home are such a great way to really get to know one another. It’s easy to turn up with a bottle of wine, the dilemma is what wine to turn up with. If you choose a red to suit the personality of...
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Bollinger: The Nectar of the Gods
Champagne has never been just a wine. It has long been recognised as something special, and until recent times, something that has only been enjoyed by nobility. Often referred to as, “the Nectar of the Gods”. hampagne can only be called Champagne if it comes from the Champagne region – an area that rarely sees...
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The ‘Holy’ Trinity
We get amongst the vines and learn what goes into making Trinity Hill wines Winemaking Wizardry Looking for a new wine to try out? Look no further. We headed down to the Hawke's Bay and caught up with Trinity Hill Wines Chief Winemaker Warren Gibson for a taste test of five of the best wines...
Read MoreCoach Your Way To Success
The Art Of Goal Setting
Break it down No, I am not writing about a bad boy band song from the 1990s, but how we go about setting our business, personal development or financial goals (insert eye roll here). Yes, another article on goal setting. There are so many articles and experts on the subject, however, the one thing I have...
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The Importance Of Being Agile
This year has been a turbulent one for New Zealand. Not just for businesses, but for people in general, with the roller-coaster of the election which fuelled uncertainty and one of the wettest winters. In real estate, uncertainty and weather always has an impact (visitors to open homes drop significantly when there’s wet and/or windy...
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How to lead with passion
I believe that passion underpins success in business. You can have the best product or service in the market, but without a passionate team of individuals driving its success, things are likely to flop. You can’t teach passion. You can’t teach people to care. As a boss or entrepreneur, it’s easy to jump out of...
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3 REASONS WE NEED TO PROTECT NEW ZEALAND’S HISTORY
One of the things that makes New Zealand interesting is its short history. In places like Europe, Asia and the Middle East, a century feels like almost nothing, as you can travel along roads and live in buildings that are hundreds and even thousands of years old. History is not such an everyday part of...
Read MoreLuxury Watches
Montblanc TimeWalker Collection
Paying tribute to Minerva’s extraordinary heritage, Montblanc takes a journey back to the glory days of motor racing with five new TimeWalker timepieces that capture the beauty, spirit and values of motorsport history. Professional watches are reborn, highlighting the performance and innovation of the new Montblanc TimeWalker collection. The Rebirth of Professional Watches Car racing...
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TAG Heuer Picks of 2017
TAG Heuer Carrera Heuer-02T Tourbillon Baguette Diamonds Jack Heuer, great-grandson of founder Edouard Heuer, designed the original Carrera in 1963, inspired by the speed, thrill and edginess in the world of auto-racing. The 2017 Carrera Heuer-02T Tour channels the daredevil bravado of Carrera’s past and injects it with the unabandoned flashiness and swagger of the...
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SEIKO Picks of 2017
Seiko Astron GPS Solar Seiko launched the Astron GPS Solar at Baselworld 2012 and five years onward, the range of Astron GPS Solar calibres continues to grow in line with the ever-widening demand for smart watch technologies. The new 8X42 brings the number of active GPS Solar calibers to four in the Astron range and...
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Girard-Perregaux Top Picks of 2017
Laureato Skeleton Girard-Perregaux impresses yet again with the Laureato Skeleton, showcasing a striking transparent design that boldly shows the inner workings of the skillfully crafted Laureato collection. The harmony between interior and exterior is a paramount objective in both architecture and horology, and the Laureato Skeleton displays what happens when the best of two disciplines...
Read MoreDrink
Barrel Owners Club
I think we’ve all considered what it would be like to make our own wine. Having rows of grapes stretching across acres of Otago land. While you may not be able to uproot your family and lifestyle to chase idyllic rural dreams you may be able to get in on this personalised wine making business....
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Clink Clink Drink
Whiskey has been a passion of mine for a while now. Way before I started my Instagram, @clinkclinkdrink, I would enjoy a regular dram with my dad. Since then I have embraced the full definition of what whiskey can be – Scotch, Irish, bourbon, rye, even New Zealand and Japanese. Whiskey is great neat, but...
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The Ultimate Whisky Night
A few weeks ago we had a another of our whisky nights with a group of lads from the neighborhood. We call it the Renfrew Whisky Appreciation Society but it is simply an enthusiastic bunch from all walks, including lawyers, accountants, bankers and a couple of project managers, all of whom have a common interest...
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Taste Of Summer
Seek out those who embrace the unusual, and you’ll find that Hendrick’s Gin is much loved by a handful of curious individuals all over the world. infused with the remarkable Bulgarian Rosa Damascena and specially selected cucumbers, Hendrick’s Gin has a unique botanical signature that sets it apart from the rest. The master distiller carefully crafts...
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Kiwi Author Sells Book Rights to Hollywood
Ben Sanders was not a name I had heard of when I saw his books in stores for Christmas. So after a few sightings, I got the message and read American Blood. I liked it. The hero, Marshall, wasn’t as arrogant as Jack Reacher, and not as active as Jason Bourne. He was a good...
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NELSON DEMILLE
America’s Greatest Living Thriller Writer (as titled on the front cover of his latest novel, The Cuban Affair), Nelson Demille writes his books with a pencil and paper from his home in Long Island, New York. It’s a process that works for him. The Cuban Affair (his 20th novel) has hit-the-ground-running by heading straight to...
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The Author To Know: David Lagercrantz
Best-selling author of I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic and 11 other well-known titles, Lagercrantz is a man who wears numerous hats. One moment he is a journalist, the next he is a biographer, the next a ghost-writer, then a novelist. A man of sheer talent and verve. Born in Solna in 1962 to Olof Lagercrantz (a...
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Stephen King – Author Credit
The infamous 1986 horror novel IT will be seen in a different light the movie hits the big screens this September. We hear from the man, Stephen King himself, about what he thinks of the upcoming iteration. When you watch a film based on one of your books, like IT, do you find yourself thinking...
Read MoreBook Reviews
THREE BOOKS TO READ THIS MONTH
TELL NO LIES Gregg Hurwitz The story is set in San Francisco, the hero is a rich kid with a tough, wealthy mother; he gives up everything to marry his sweetheart and becomes a psychologist who works with ex-prisoners to rehabilitate them. Mother does not approve. It’s a murder mystery with twists and turns and...
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The Books To Read
Typhoon Fury Clive Cussler Juan Cabrillo and the corporation are off on another adventure, this time sees them in Asia. A good old fashioned good guy versus the bad guys with the villain being tough and not to be messed with. This is the 9th Oregon files book, those familiar with the series will know...
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Books: Must Reads For April
Gallery Of The Dead Chris Carter Robert Hunter, the insomniac genius detective, is back with a novel that fulfills the cover’s proclamation that it is ‘as addictive as a box-set’. I agree, I was bingeing this book at every opportunity. Excellent characters and plot. The Caller Chris Carter Don’t be put off by the tacky...
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THREE BOOKS TO READ THIS MONTH
Three Days And A Life Pierre Lemaitre Reading this book for me was like watching a great arthouse film. Lemaitre, who Stephen King says is “a really excellent suspense novelist”, had me gripped from the opening pages. I really felt for our lead character and wondered what was he going to do. How do you...
Read MoreM2 MARCH 2018 issue
Sports – March 2018
The One To Watch: Blair Tuke New Zealand sailing’s unsung hero Team New Zealand trimmer and 49er legend Blair Tuke hasn’t always been in his good mate, Peter Burling’s shadow and he has stepped out of it again by continuing New Zealand’s proud history in the Volvo Ocean Race. Before the America’s Cup became the...
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Jaguar Performing, Performance Art
Performing Arts are essentially an emotional expression. They are a way for artists to convey feelings and emotive articulation through the likes of music, dance and theatre and generally in front of a live audience. The Jaguar Art of Performance Tour is all of the above but aptly presented, in vehicular format. In a very...
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From The Ground Up: Inside Monk Mackenzie
Their iconic bright pink Lightpath cycleway on Nelson Street in Auckland’s CBD speaks for itself, but that is just the tip of the iceberg for Monk Mackenzie. Hamish Monk and Dean Mackenzie, the brains and namesake behind the architecture and design studio Monk Mackenzie, pack an impressive breadth of experience on projects that span across...
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Not Your Ordinary Kitchen Island
Having a granite counter top in a kitchen isn’t something that sounds too outlandish. Neither does marble. New York studio Snarkitecture has decided to eschew traditional kitchen trends, taking design cues from nature and topography, with their series of kitchen islands inspired by glaciers, rivers and geysers. The project, entitled Altered State showcases kitchen islands...
Read MoreM2 FEBRUARY 2018 issue
The Culinary Experience – Tea Under The Sea
In the deep, dark depths of the southernmost point of the Norwegian coast you will find diverse marine life and wild fauna of the sea – and soon the world’s largest underwater restaurant, Under. Due to open in February 2019, renderings of the project illustrate a building half-submerged into the waters off the coast of...
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5 Ways Great Leaders Motivate Their Team
Happy workers are productive workers. A motivated, passionate group of employees are going to work hard and help your business grow. Maximising revenue and increasing productivity will help your bottom line, but to get there, it is key to make your staff feel valued. Here are five ways great leaders motivate their team. Find the...
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Robotic Pillow
If an average night’s sleep is equivalent to eight hours, then you spend a third of your life asleep. Gee whiz. So why not amp up the quality of sleep to increase the quality of your waking moments? Counting sheep, tossing and turning, intrusive thoughts are part of the pursuit of the land of nod,...
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Man On The Street – Michael Broadbent
Age: 38 Occupation: Founder of Broadbent Risk and Evergreen Life What’s your morning routine? My alarm goes off and I’m up at 6.30am. I’ll have my first coffee of the day and then head for the gym at 7.30am for an hour. I start work at 9am. How did you spend your Christmas / New...
Read MoreM2 JANUARY 2018 issue
Summer Grooming Essentials
That’s right, this is the last issue of M2 that I will put together in 2017, and therefore the last chance for me to put together a collection of summer essentials. These are the pieces I don’t leave without when heading away for a weekend at the bach. Clockwise from left: Herschel cap, $49.99, from...
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Matt Smith – The Fresh Prince
Time Lord or Prince Charming? Take your pick, but rising star Matt Smith can lay claim to both. The rising style icon, ex-Doctor Who, and now Prince Philip, in Netflix blockbuster The Crown, is beginning to carve out his own kingdom – one role at a time. The divine right of kings is a religious...
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Style News – January 2018
Take to the beach in style this summer, because we’ve been at the gym all year working on our summer bodies, right… Barkers Imagine, you’ve just woken up from a dazed slumber, the gentle rocking of the boat is making light splashes against the sea water: the ultimate summer dream. Look the part on land...
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Fizz The Season
Often referred to as the elixir of the gods and quite possibly the magic potion from Gaul that often appeared in Asterix comics, Champagne has long been the celebratory drink for all occasions. To a large part, the wine makers use predominantly Pinot Noir grapes mainly from the Champagne region mixed with Chablis from the...
Read MoreM2 DECEMBER 2017 issue - Man of the Year issue
Photo Series: Dark And Stormy
The sky above you starts roaring, you feel the earth beneath you quivering and the crisp, whirling air feels like it’s forming icicles on your cheeks. But the lighting is perfect and the brewing tornado plummets to the ground below, you feel the clunk of your camera shutter opening to capture the moment. And you...
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Aaron Taylor-Johnson
He knows how to dance. He knows how to sing. He’s funny, and intense…’ Givenchy Parfum’s chief executive officer described Aaron Taylor-Johnson when announcing him as the new face of Givenchy Gentleman Only. Born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, just north-west of London, a young Taylor-Johnson attended the Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, where...
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If You Want to Have Big Success, You Need to Become More
“There is one thing that 99 percent of failures and successful people have in common: they all hate doing the same things. The difference is successful people do them anyway.” – Darren Hardy “Higher success requires you to be a better version of yourself.” Prolific motivational speaker Jim Rohn said that, many years ago. “If you...
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Summer Essentials
Summer is finally here. Fun fact: technically summer doesn’t actually start until December 21 in New Zealand and Australia, which is the meteorological start to the season while the ‘first of the month’ is chosen to make record-keeping simple, easy and clean. Anyway… Summer is mostly here, and it is time to wrangle together your best...
Read MoreM2 NOVEMBER 2017 issue
Polling the Nation
We took to social media for your opinions on these hot topics PETA Campaign comes from left field A PETA campaign featuring Alicia Silverstone puts shearing sheep into the spotlight for being what they think is unethical. “This is quite frankly ridiculous and another predictable example of what PETA resort to when they seek attention...
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BMW M2 LCI – a Vermicious Knid
Vermicious knids are huge dark egg-shaped beings that live on the planet Vermes 184,270,000,000 miles away from earth and for some reason, they are the first things that came to mind when I drove BMW’s new M2 rocket ship. It’s obviously not their shape that made me think of them, it’s the ‘fact’ that they...
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Performance Trio
Subaru’s 2018 Performance range (the all-wheel drive turbocharged WRX, WRX STi and Levorg 2.0 GT-S) has been dressed to impress. Mechanical and cosmetic modifications have muscled up the owner experience to new adrenaline-charged levels as the Rex pair add to their rally-backed reputation and the Levorg 2.0 GT-S cements itself in Kiwi culture as a...
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This is What the Future of BMW Looks Like
At CES2017 BMW revealed the BMW i Inside Future sculpture, an experimental concept pushing the boundaries of how we interact with our vehicles. The interior design is more zenlike in its simplicity, and takes the focus away from the driver. In previous BMW’s they’ve aimed all the controls at the driver, making them a pilot at...
Read MoreM2 OCTOBER 2017 issue
Editor’s Letter – October 2017
In a world where comments, shares and reactions are currency and influencers are well, influential, I realise I might sound a little stale if I share a warning about the dangers of too much of an obsession with social media. Before you imagine my words in the voice of your grandmother warning you not to...
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Health News – October 2017
Get into the best gear, and get your body ready for from the inside to make the most of your workout. NEW BALANCE If you are that way inclined, then you can understand the struggle of finding a performance shoe that looks just as good as it performs. The New Balance 574 Sport is a...
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Style News October 2017
The latest in all things style, from fashion to fragrance – we bring you the best from the brands you need to know about. Above: Dane Dehaan for the Prada La’Homme Intense Campaign THE WEEKND The Weeknd recently announced, with a post on his Instagram to his 15 million-something followers, that he is again collaborating...
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Home & Away
Whether you’re willing to forgo creature comforts for a one-of-a-kind experience in a traditional Navajo Indian hut, or still living lavishly without the swarms of tourists and lacklustre room service, we’ve compiled six off-the-beaten-path holiday rentals to help you temporarily forget your woes and fulfil your fantasies of solitude. Bridge Studio – Fogo Island, Canada It’s...
Read MoreM2 SEPTEMBER 2017 issue
Man on the Street – Mattias Inwood
Age: 23 Occupation: Actor What is your morning routine? I can’t/won’t start the day without coffee. If I’m working on a project, the day can start anywhere from 4-6 am, in which case I’ll give myself an hour to get up, maybe stretch out have my coffee and a bit of breakfast then start the...
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Taron Egerton, Golden Boy
Action, explosions and impeccable tailoring, the new Kingsman film has it all. Following the worldwide success of the first film of the franchise, Kingsman: The Golden Circle is set to hit the big screens this September and packs a star-studded cast. Taron Egerton talks about the excitement of returning to the role of Eggsy for...
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How to Master the Neutral Tones
With the return of the 80s in fashion comes quite a few neutral, washed-out pastel tones appearing in collections, along with some of the cuts. The turtle neck has been strong for the past few seasons, but we are seeing this more often and in colours that pay homage to the era. The Working Style...
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Olympic Gold. World records. Trophies, championships and banners. After The Win, Where To?
These tangible symbols of victory are all attained through the intangible qualities of the athlete – tremendous dedication, sacrifice, indomitable will and relentlessness towards glory. We hold athletes to high standards, but what’s easy to forget is that for every competitor that wins a medal, there are scores that don’t place, qualify or make the team....
Read MoreM2 AUGUST 2017 issue
Health News – August 2017
New Balance New Balance is bridging the gap between performance and lifestyle shoes with their latest release, the 574 Sport. Known for their classic running style, New Balance is injecting their widely recognised running style into a shoe that is sporty, yet sleek – in other words a shoe you can wear to the gym...
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Must Watch This Month
All the blockbusters are dropping around us at the moment and we’re heading on toward the middle of the year. But don’t worry, there won’t be a complete drought. There are a couple decent films coming out to keep us interested. ATOMIC BLONDE Academy award winner Charlize Theron does a gritty and awesome take on...
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Fashion Trend – Winter Gettin’ you Down?
You either love ’em or hate ’em, but puffer jackets have been finding their way into the more ‘accepted’ side of the fashion scene lately. But when it comes to the fact that, yes, it is cold outside, you will find there are, in fact, some pretty cool options out there. Is your finger on...
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Man on the Street – Roko Babich
Age: 36 Occupation: Head of Production NZME Vision What do you have for breakfast? Homemade muesli, fruit and a long black. What is your morning routine? Wake up at 5, hit the gym, then off to work by 7:30. What’s your dream car? If I had a 1967 Shelby GT500 sitting in the garage I’d...
Read MoreM2 JULY 2017 issue
Wheels News July 2017
ROLLS-ROYCE ‘SWEPTAIL’ – An $18m COACHBUILDING EXTRAORDINAIRE With the 103EX, Rolls-Royce presented to the world a coachbuilding platform to inspire its future clientele. This Vision Vehicle envisaged a world of completely personal luxury mobility where new technologies would allow every Rolls-Royce to be designed in their owners’ image, should they wish. However, the mere idea...
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Discover Your New Local – Ben Bayly’s Less Obvious Guide to the Best Restaurants
We live in a golden age of chefs. Between the move towards consumers seeking a more personal and authentic dining experience, Auckland is bubbling over with cooking legends who not only practice world-class gastronomy but also manage to remain authentic with more focus on craft than profit. Ben Bayly, one of the judges on New...
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The Rich List
We chat to Josh McKenzie, star of New Zealand’s very own Filthy Rich, which is returning for its anticipated second season. From fitness to charity work, we find out what makes Joshua tick. So you are back for a second season of Filthy Rich, how did you feel when you heard that this second season had been...
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Style News July 2017
We are well and truly settled into the shorter days of winter, meaning the wet, cold and windy weather predominates. Layer up and be warm and cosy, or escape altogether, with some well-deserved travel to sunny shores or skylines of countries enjoying their warm tropical summer. DEADLY PONIES Travel in style with new additions and...
Read MoreM2 JUNE 2017 issue
Cassina – 90 years of Design Classics
This year’s Milan Furniture Fair in April (Salone del Mobile 2017) seemed to me to be the busiest I have known in the 30 years I have attended this hugely successful annual expo of the world’s greatest furniture designs. Adding to the excitement were the sheer number of anniversaries of the leading design manufacturers. One...
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Style Exclusive: Brace Yourself
Most men are thrill seekers, looking for ways to get adrenaline pumping through their veins, and Luke Bracey, the face of the new fragrance from Ralph Lauren, ‘Polo Red Extreme’, is no exception and possibly the most perfect fit. From skydiving, to rock climbing, to surfing giant waves, Bracey leapt at the chance to perform...
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4 Ways To Sleep Better
Sleep is that time in your life where you go into a short-term coma and escape the horrors of life. It keeps you at the top of your game and gives you time to sort through the challenges of the day. However, it’s delicate and the smallest thing can ruin your sleep. Of course there’s...
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Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, A No Brainer Must Buy
When I get a Switch game I always feel like I’m getting two games for one. I plug the Switch into the TV and I’m playing a console. I pull the Switch out of its cradle and now I have the same game on a portable device. It really is amazing. So much so I...
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